About the PML04 Training Package

The Laboratory Operations Training Package addresses the recognition and training needs of technical/laboratory personnel in five broad occupational categories:

• sampler/testers
• laboratory assistants
• technical assistants
• technical officers
• laboratory supervisors, senior technical officers, technical specialists

Qualifications in PML04

The nationally recognised qualifications under the current Training Package are:

Certificate II in Sampling and Measurement
Certificate III in Laboratory Skills
Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques
Diploma of Laboratory Technology
Advanced Diploma of Laboratory Operations

Status of the Training Package

The Laboratory Operations Training Package has recently been revised and PML04 has been endorsed, replacing PML99.

The Laboratory Operations Training Package has been extensively reviewed. Although many of the existing units have been carried forward, all units have been updated for changes which have occurred in the workplace since development of PML99. The OHS units have all been reviewed and updated with input from the National Occupational, Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC).

New units of competency have been developed for new industry sectors and field work, in close cooperation with expert groups. PML04 now provides better coverage for a wider range of industries, providing access to national qualifications and pathways for more technicians in areas such as mineral assay, construction materials testing, environmental monitoring, biotechnology, manufacturing testing, food testing and specialist calibration, in recognition of the growing importance of these fields.

The endorsed component of the Training Package comprises the units of competency, the qualifications framework and the assessment guidelines. This is a comprehensive package providing the building blocks and framework for the national qualifications.

A unit of competency describes the standard of skills and knowledge required for an aspect of a job.

The qualifications framework shows how the units of competency can be structured into a qualification. It also provides information on customising to meet the needs of an enterprise, industry or learner.

The assessment guidelines outline the industry requirements which enable assessment of competency and award of Statements of Attainment or qualifications.

The Training Package offers the opportunity to develop specialised skills to meet a company or a trainee's needs while providing a recognised set of skills that are transferable across the industry. Training can be done on or off the job; it takes into account new developments in your workplace through the ease of customisation of the competency standards.

Each qualification in the Training Package can be customised under the packaging rules specified. For example, different combinations of elective units can be chosen, and units can be imported from other endorsed Training Packages.

Units of competency can be customised by contextualisation - the inclusion of enterprise specific details into the range of variables and the evidence guide. This can reflect the specific work practices, processes and equipment of the enterprise, while maintaining the integrity of the unit of competency.

Support materials

There are currently no support materials which align specifically to PML04, however a range of support materials was developed for PML99 and many of these will be relevenant to PML04. Available resources include, for example, Toolboxes (cds), and hard copy learning and assessment resources. Many of them can be purchased online from Australian Training Products.

For up to date details of other resources that may be relevant to this Training Package, please see the Audit of Available Resources - from the download publications page.